Improvement in can-holders for filling and opening



UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

BENJAMIN F. BEAN, OF PAVLING, PENNSYLVANIA.

lMPROVE-MENT IN CAN-HOLDERS FOR FILLING AND OPENING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,940, dated July 14, 1874; application filed May 20, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. BEAN, of Pawling, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Holding Cans and Jars while being Opened, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to devices for holding fruit cans and jars while they are being opened; and consists in a support for the can provided with a strap to encircle the same, and devices for tightening the strap, as hereinafter explained.

Figure l is a top-plan view of my device with a can therein 5 Fig. 2, a side elevation of the device without the can.

A represents a flat board or base, to which there is secured an upright, a, for the can to bear against, and a curved bloek, b, to prevent the can from moving out of position as the clamping-strap is tightened. The face of the upright a is provided with a rubber or other elastic cushion, c, which adapts itself to the can or jar, and affords a irm support therefor, prevents glass jars from being broken, and by its adhesion assists in holding the can or jar from turning. On one side of the upright a I secure a loop or stirrup, E, containing a pivoted eccentric, E, as shown. On the other side of the upright I pivot a horizontal handlever, G, to which there is pivotcd a link, H. To the free end of the link H I secure olie end of a broad st ap, D, the opposite end of which is pa-ssed through the loop E, and locked fast by the cam F, as shown in Fig. l.

The ca-n or jar to be opened is placed against the cushioned face of the upright, inside ot' the strap, and the hand-lever drawn back to tighten the strap around the can or jar. The lever is drawn back until the link passes the center, so as to hold the lever and keep the strap under tension. The can or jar held bctween the strap and standard is given a firm and solid support, and prevented from turning, so that its top may be readily cut out, unscrewed, or otherwise removed, as the occasion may require.

By means of the eccentric clamp, the strap may be lengthened and shortened, as may be required, owing to the difference in the size of the cans or jars.

It is obvious that a screw, or a drum and crank, or other devices, may be used for tightening the strap 5 that where the cans used are all of one size, no provision need be made for changing the length of the strap.

By the use of the ileXible strap or band to encircle the jar or can, and of the cushioned face for the same to bear against, I enable the device to hold iirmly jars of all sizes and forms without danger of breaking those made of glass. The device is intended more especially for holding those glass jars which have their tops fastened by a rotary movement. Owing to the smoothness of the glass and the firmness with which the tops adhere it is extremely difficult to hold them from turning without endangering a fracture of the glass; but by the use of my wide flexible band, which adapts itself to the form of the glass, and presents a large adhesive surface thereto, the glass is held with great firmness.

It is also further obvious that, instead ot' using' the base A, a light portable device may be made by attaching a handle to the upright a, by which to hold it. If desired, the link H may be omitted and the strap attached directly to the lever.

My device is cheap, simple, readily operated, and very efficient, and will be found ot' great utility, not only for hotels, restaurants, cve.; but for domestic use also. It will also be found of great service for holding` jars and cans while the tops are being screwed on in packing establishments. A clamp of suitable shape may be used to secure the device to a table.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The fruit-jar holder, consisting` of the support a, the broad flexible strap D to encircle the jar, and the lever B, or its equivalent, to tighten up and hold the strap, as shown and set forth.

2. rIhe combination of the support a., the :flexible strap l), the eccentric clamp for holdl ing the rear end of the strap and permitting its length to bc varied, and the lever G, or its equivalent, for tightening up the strap around the jar, as shown.

3. The combination of the support a, the cushion c, and the flexible strap D, arranged tohug the jar against the cushion, as set forth.

BENJAMIN F. BEAN.

Witnesses:

J W. KEEL, HENRY BEAN. 

